School of Music

Graduate Bulletin

School of Music

Overview

MM Overview

The School of Music of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts prepares
students for professional careers. Our goal is twofold: to enable students to attain
their highest musical aspirations and to meet the challenge of succeeding in a highly
competitive profession. With this in mind, we have designed a unique program of study.

In its conservatory setting, UNCSA provides an artistic environment in which each
student pursues personal musical development. But the School of Music is also a professional
training ground in which the student actively and realistically prepares for the practical
aspects of making a living as a musician.

Each student pursues a course of musical study with an outstanding artist-faculty.
As professionals in their own areas, faculty members are committed to continuing their
own careers while sharing a wealth of experience and knowledge with their students.

The Graduate Program represents the School of Music at its highest level of artistry
and education. The two-year Master of Music degree’s goals and objectives are to prepare
and train students for careers as professional classical musicians in the following
areas of study: brass, composition, guitar performance and pedagogy, voice, orchestral
conducting, organ, percussion, piano, strings, and woodwinds (including saxophone).

Chrysalis Chamber Music InstituteThe Chrysalis Chamber Music Institute of the UNCSA School of Music is dedicated to
the development of outstanding chamber musicians. Three elective courses are provided
by the Institute: MUS 6280: Chrysalis Chamber Music Ensemble; MUS 6281: Chrysalis
Chamber Music Seminar; and MUS 6282: Chrysalis Chamber Music Project. All students
participating in the Chrysalis Institute typically take all three courses. The Ensemble
course features regular coachings by faculty and guests, along with appropriate performance
opportunities. The Seminar is led by faculty and guests and explores topics of particular
interest to chamber musicians, such as interpersonal relations within a chamber ensemble,
professional ethics, preparing for festivals and competitions, and stylistic interpretation.
The Project is a capstone effort devised by students in consultation with faculty
intended to demonstrate skills attained through participation in the Institute.

PAC Overview

The Professional Artist Certificate and the Fletcher Institute Professional Artist
Certificate programs represent the School of Music at its highest level of artistry
and education. The goals and objectives of each are to prepare and train students
for careers as professional classical musicians in the following areas of study: brass,
composition, guitar performance and pedagogy, vocal performance, orchestral conducting,
organ, percussion, piano, strings and woodwinds (including saxophone).

Professional Artist Certificate

Concentrations

Requirements

MM Requirements

A. Admissions Requirements

Admission to the graduate program is by application and audition. Candidates must
have completed a Bachelor of Music or a Bachelor of Arts from an accredited conservatory,
college, or university (or the equivalent if the institution is located outside the
United States). To apply, graduate candidates must submit the following: a completed
application form and application fee, two letters of recommendation, an official transcript
with a seal or registrar’s signature from each college attended (copies are unacceptable
and international students must submit a certified English translation for each transcript),
a résumé detailing the applicant’s artistic experience and educational objectives,
a repertoire list, and a TOEFL test (if the candidate is an international student).

The following must occur before a student is officially admitted to the program: a
recommendation in writing from the audition panel will be made and sent to the Associate
Dean of the School of Music. With their approval, a recommendation to that effect
will be signed by the Associate Dean and the application will then be sent to the
Dean of the School of Music for final approval.

To be admissible to any graduate program in the School of Music, applicants must possess
the following essential qualifications:

Aural ability to discriminate discrete pitches;

Visual ability sufficient to read standard notated music;

Visual ability sufficient to recognize and interpret gestures of a conductor for concentrations
requiring ensemble participation;

Fine motor skills sufficient to play a keyboard instrument regardless of area of concentration;

Ability to participate in group instruction.

B. Transfer Information

The School of Music accepts transfer credit from accredited graduate programs. Transfer
credit may account for up to 50 percent of the degree requirements. Transfer credit
will be determined by the Associate Dean of the School of Music in consultation with
the appropriate faculty and approval by the Dean of the School of Music. To receive
transfer credit a student must make a formal request by letter to the Associate Dean
of the School of Music.

PAC Requirements

Admission to the post-master’s program is by application and audition. Candidates
must have completed a Master of Music or a Master of Arts from an accredited conservatory,
college or university (or the equivalent if the institution is located outside the
United States). To apply, candidates must submit the following: a completed application
form and application fee, two letters of recommendation, an official transcript with
a seal or registrar’s signature from each college attended (copies are unacceptable
and international students must submit a certified English translation for each transcript),
a résumé detailing the applicant’s artistic experience and educational objectives,
a repertoire list, a project proposal, and a TOEFL test (if the candidate is an international
student).

The following must occur before a student is officially admitted to the program: a
recommendation in writing from the audition panel will be made and sent to the Associate
Dean of the School of Music. With their approval, a recommendation to that effect
will be signed by the Associate Dean and the application will then be sent to the
Dean of the School of Music for final approval.

To be admissible to any graduate program in the School of Music, applicants must possess
the following essential qualifications:

Aural ability to discriminate discrete pitches;

Visual ability sufficient to read standard notated music;

Visual ability sufficient to recognize and interpret gestures of a conductor for concentrations
requiring ensemble participation;

Fine motor skills sufficient to play a keyboard instrument regardless of area of concentration;
Ability to participate in group instruction.

Evaluation

MM Evaluation

A. Proficiency Requirements

All incoming graduate students will be required to take theory, ear training, and
music history proficiency examinations.

B. Graduate Jury Requirements

Graduate students are expected to perform for all departmental juries.

C. Graduate Recital Requirements

Graduate students, with the exception of composition and voice, are required to perform
two recitals. All required graduate recitals must be approved in advance. This approval
includes the contents of the program as well as the student’s preparation.

The studio teacher must approve the first recital program in advance. The second recital
must be approved in advance at a recital hearing at least one month before the scheduled
recital date. The recital hearing jury will be composed of at least two faculty members
from the department. The student will be required to perform a significant portion
of the scheduled program. A majority of the recital hearing jury must approve the
recital request in writing by signing a Recital Authorization Form

Graduate composition students are required to produce one recital of their works.
Composers will follow the second recital guidelines listed above for their recital
approval. Composers must submit the following for their recital hearing: copies of
all scores and parts, personnel list, rehearsal schedule, program, biography, texts
(when appropriate), and program notes.

Graduate voice students are required to perform one major opera role and one recital.
Voice students will follow the second recital guidelines listed above for their recital
approval.

D. Progression Towards Degree

The residency requirement for the Master of Music is one year (two consecutive semesters)
as a fulltime student. A full-time student is one who is enrolled for a minimum of
nine graduate credits per semester. The degree of Master of Music must be completed
within five years of the initial enrollment in the program.

PAC Evaluation

A. Graduate Jury Requirements

Graduate students are expected to perform for all departmental juries.

B. Progression Towards Certificate

The residency requirement for the Professional Artist Certificate and the Fletcher
Institute Professional Artist Certificate is one year (two consecutive semesters)
as a full-time student. A full-time student is one who is enrolled for a minimum of
nine graduate credits per term.